xuān bù dòng shēng sè ， dàn xīn zhōng què yǐn yǐn yǒu xiē qī pàn le ， sú huà shuō tà pò T7 chù ， dé lái quán bù fèi gōng fu ， jī yuán qiǎo hé ， huò xǔ jīn tiān zì jǐ huì yǒu bù cuò de shōu huò 。
轩不动声色，但心中却隐隐有些期盼了，俗话说踏破T7处，得来全不费工夫，机缘巧合，或许今天自己会有不错的收获。
Lin Xuan remained calm on the surface, but a faint hope stirred within him. As they say, "Tread upon the threshold and gain without effort," so perhaps today would bring some unexpected fortune.
duì yú zì jǐ de liǎn qì shù ， tā hái shì yǒu nà me jǐ fēn xīn dé ， suǒ yǐ lí dé suī rán hěn jìn ， què yě bìng bù dān xīn bào lù 。
对于自己的敛气术，他还是有那么几分心得，所以离得虽然很近，却也并不担心暴露。
He still had some understanding of his Qi Control Technique, which allowed him to remain undetected despite their proximity.
nà xiē xiū shì suī rán bù shǔ yú tóng yī mén pài ， dàn yě fēn chéng le jǐ bō ， là xià dùn guāng yǐ hòu ， duì shì le jǐ yǎn ， rán hòu jǐ wèi lǐng tóu zhī rén ， biàn jù jí zài le shān diān 。
那些修士虽然不属于同一门派，但也分成了几拨，落下遁光以后，对视了几眼，然后几位领头之人，便聚集在了山巅。
Although these cultivators did not belong to the same sect, they were divided into several groups. After the light from their遁光 settled, they exchanged glances before a few leaders gathered atop the mountain peak.
liǎng nán yī nǚ ， xiū wèi yě shì zhè xiē rén zhī zhōng zuì gāo de ， dōu yǒu níng dān zhōng qī de jìng jiè le 。
两男一女，修为也是这些人之中最高的，都有凝丹中期的境界了。
Two men and one woman, both of whom had the highest cultivation levels among them—both at the middle stage of Condensation Core.
ér lín xuān zé duō kàn le nà nǚ xiū jǐ yǎn 。
而林轩则多看了那女修几眼。
Lin Xuan paid extra attention to the female cultivator.
dāng rán ， bú shì wèi duì fāng de zī sè suǒ mí ， cǐ nǚ suī rán róng yán hái suàn xiù lì ， dàn yě jué fēi lìng rén nán wàng de dà měi nǚ ， ràng lín xuān gǎn dào yì wài de shì ， tā jū rán shì yī wèi guǐ dào xiū shì 。
当然，不是为对方的姿色所迷，此女虽然容颜还算秀丽，但也绝非令人难忘的大美女，让林轩感到意外的是，她居然是一位鬼道修士。
Of course, it wasn't because he was captivated by her beauty. Although she was quite attractive, she certainly didn't stand out as a memorable beauty. What surprised Lin Xuan was that she was a Ghost Dao cultivator. Furthermore, the cultivation technique she practiced must have some anti-aging effects; otherwise, most Condensation Core cultivators would be well over a hundred years old. Yet this woman looked youthful and vibrant, around twenty.
ér qiě suǒ xiū gōng fǎ kěn dìng yǒu zhù yán de xiào guǒ ， fǒu zé chú le zì jǐ zhè zhǒng yì shù ， yì bān de níng dān qī xiū xiān zhě ， zhì shǎo yě huì zài bǎi suì kāi wài ， kě cǐ nǚ kàn shàng qù què qīng chūn liàng lì ， èr shí xǔ rén de yàng zi 。
而且所修功法肯定有驻颜的效果，否则除了自己这种异数，一般的凝丹期修仙者，至少也会在百岁开外，可此女看上去却青春靓丽，二十许人的样子。
The other two were different. One was tall and imposing, yet his hair was unkempt, exuding an air of unrestrained freedom.
liǎng wài liǎng rén ， yī wèi yīng zī tǐng bá ， kě què pī tóu sàn fà ， hún shēn shàng xià ， chōng mǎn le fàng dàng bù jī zhī qì 。
两外两人，一位英姿挺拔，可却披头散发，浑身上下，充满了放荡不羁之气。
The last one was elderly with an ordinary appearance, dressed in a crimson robe that stood out among them.
zuì hòu yí gè ， nián jì yǐ lǎo ， róng mào yě shí fēn pǔ tōng ， chuān zhe yī shēn huǒ hóng sè de cháng páo ， yī zhuó fǎn ér chéng le tā wéi yī rě yǎn de dì fāng 。
最后一个，年纪已老，容貌也十分普通，穿着一身火红色的长袍，衣着反而成了他唯一惹眼的地方。
After exchanging nods, they began to discuss their plans.
sān rén jù zài yì qǐ zhī hòu ， gè zì diǎn le yī xià tou ， biàn suàn dǎ guò le zhāo hū 。
三人聚在一起之后，各自点了一下头，便算打过了招呼。
"Refined Lady Ning, is the information truly accurate? The ghostly convoy will pass through here half an hour from now?"
“ níng xiān zi ， xiāo xī zhēn dí què shí ， bàn gè shí chén yǐ hòu ， nà xiē lì guǐ de chē duì jiù huì jīng guò zhè lǐ ？”
“宁仙子，消息真的确实，半个时辰以后，那些厉鬼的车队就会经过这里？”
The female cultivator raised her eyebrows and looked disapprovingly at the man with unkempt hair. "Brother Zhou, what do you mean by that? If you doubt my intelligence, feel free to leave."
nǚ xiū méi tóu yī tiāo 。 pǒ wèi bù mǎn dì kàn le yī yǎn pī fà xiū shì ：“ zhōu xiōng zhè huà shén me yì si 。 ruò shì bù xiāng xìn xiǎo nǚ zǐ dì qíng bào 。 dà kě lí kāi jiù shì 。”
女修眉头一挑。颇为不满地看了一眼披发修士：“周兄这话什么意思。若是不相信小女子地情报。大可离开就是。”
This woman was indeed a Ghost Dao cultivator; not only was she sharp-tongued but also emitted an aura of chilling coldness around her.
cǐ nǚ bù kuì shì guǐ xiū zhōng rén 。 bù jǐn yán yǔ pō là 。 ér qiě jiāo qū sì zhōu 。 sàn fà chū zhèn zhèn lìng rén xīn jīng dì hán qì 。
此女不愧是鬼修中人。不仅言语泼辣。而且娇躯四周。散发出阵阵令人心惊地寒气。
The man with untamed hair hesitated for a moment before showing a wry smile. He seemed to understand the nature of this woman and didn't argue further.
nà pī fà xiū shì biǎo qíng yī zhì 。 suí jí liǎn shàng lù chū le kǔ xiào zhī sè 。 sì hū yě liǎo jiě cǐ nǚ dì pí qì 。 bìng méi yǒu hé tā duō zhēng biàn shén me 。
那披发修士表情一滞。随即脸上露出了苦笑之色。似乎也了解此女地脾气。并没有和她多争辩什么。
"Alright, Refined Lady Ning, Brother Zhou, let's not quarrel. We must cooperate closely if we want to succeed in this treasure hunt," said the red-robed elder, deftly mediating the situation. "Let's discuss our plans."
“ hǎo le 。 níng xiān zi 。 zhōu lǎo dì 。 liǎng wèi shǎo shuō jǐ jù 。 qiān wàn bù kě shāng le hé qì 。 zhè cì jié bǎo 。 hái yào wǒ men tōng lì hé zuò cái xíng 。” hóng páo lǎo zhě zài yī páng dǎ qǐ le yuán chǎng ：“ lái 。 wǒ men hǎo hǎo shāng liáng shāng liáng 。”
“好了。宁仙子。周老弟。两位少说几句。千万不可伤了和气。这次劫宝。还要我们通力合作才行。”红袍老者在一旁打起了圆场：“来。我们好好商量商量。”
As he spoke, his fingers curled and extended, creating a layer of soundproofing protection. He was indeed experienced; his actions were meticulous and smooth, leaving no room for error.
shuō dào zhè lǐ 。 tā wǔ zhǐ qǔ zhāng 。 fàng chū le yī céng gé yīn dì hù zhào 。 jiāng hái shì lǎo dì là 。 cǐ rén xíng shì 。 xiǎo xīn yuán huá 。 yī sī lòu dòng yě bù céng liú xià 。
说到这里。他五指曲张。放出了一层隔音地护罩。姜还是老地辣。此人行事。小心圆滑。一丝漏洞也不曾留下。
Lin Xuan felt surprised. This move had created significant trouble for him. Although Lin Xuan could force his way to eavesdrop with his powers, doing so might alert the others, making it a risky endeavor he would not easily attempt.
lín xuān gǎn dào pǒ wèi jīng yà 。 duì fāng zhè me yī lái 。 kě gěi zì jǐ zào chéng le bù xiǎo dì má fán 。 suī rán yǐ lín xuān dì shén tōng 。 yào qiáng xíng tōu tīng yě bìng fēi méi yǒu bàn fǎ 。 kě nà yàng zuò 。 hěn yǒu kě néng dǎ cǎo jīng shé 。 rú cǐ dé bù cháng shī dì shì qíng lín xuān zì rán bú huì qīng yì cháng shì dì 。
林轩感到颇为惊讶。对方这么一来。可给自己造成了不小地麻烦。虽然以林轩地神通。要强行偷听也并非没有办法。可那样做。很有可能打草惊蛇。如此得不偿失地事情林轩自然不会轻易尝试地。
He stroked his chin in thought. From their brief conversation, he gleaned valuable information.
mō le mō xià bā ， lín xuān xiàn rù le chén sī ， cóng gāng cái de zhī yán piàn yǔ ， tā yī yàng dé chū le bù shǎo yǒu yòng de xìn xī 。
摸了摸下巴，林轩陷入了沉思，从刚才的只言片语，他一样得出了不少有用的信息。
After wandering through the occupied zone for over half a month, he was familiar with its situation. These cultivators intended to kill ghosts and seize treasures.
bì jìng zì jǐ zài lún xiàn qū ， yě yóu dàng le bàn yuè yǒu yú ， duì yú zhè ér de xíng shì ， yě liǎo jiě le bù shǎo 。
毕竟自己在沦陷区，也游荡了半月有余，对于这儿的形势，也了解了不少。
The yin spirits had taken control of this area, destroying or damaging the spirit veins and mineral deposits, rendering them practically useless to humans. However, not everything was absolute; despite their different cultivation systems, there were some commonalities, particularly as more ghost kings with physical forms emerged, making certain rare herbs useful for them.
kàn lái zhè xiē xiū shì ， shì xiǎng yào shā guǐ qiǎng bǎo 。
看来这些修士，是想要杀鬼抢宝。
There were also the materials needed for forging spiritual artifacts, which yin spirits required to control talismans and other magical items.
yīn hún men zhàn lǐng le zhè yī piàn qū yù ， duì yú líng mài kuàng cáng ， dǎo huǐ de dǎo huǐ ， pò huài de pò huài ， fǎn zhèng duì tā men ér yán ， zhè xiē rén lèi de xiū liàn zī yuán ， jī hū dōu pài bù shàng shén me yòng chǎng 。
阴魂们占领了这一片区域，对于灵脉矿藏，捣毁的捣毁，破坏的破坏，反正对牠们而言，这些人类的修炼资源，几乎都派不上什么用场。
Given these needs, the ghosts naturally did not hesitate to plunder various spirit vein sites, transporting valuable goods back to their strongholds.
rán ér fán shì méi yǒu jué duì ， suī rán shuāng fāng de xiū liàn tǐ xì yǒu yī xiē chā bié ， dàn hái shì yǒu jí shǎo shù xiāng tōng zhī chù ， tè bié shì suí zhe níng jù chū xíng tǐ de guǐ wáng rì jiàn zēng duō ， yī xiē zhēn xī cǎo yào duì tā men yě jiù yǒu le yòng tú 。
然而凡事没有绝对，虽然双方的修炼体系有一些差别，但还是有极少数相通之处，特别是随着凝聚出形体的鬼王日渐增多，一些珍稀草药对牠们也就有了用途。
These resources, beneficial to both humans and ghosts, became highly prized by cultivators. As the saying goes, "Man for money, bird for food," many explorers and treasure hunters in the occupied zone began targeting the ghostly convoys.
hái yǒu jiù shì liàn qì cái liào ， yīn hún men yī yàng xū yào qū shǐ fǎ bǎo 。
还有就是炼器材料，阴魂们一样需要驱使法宝。
It was said that some successfully robbed a convoy and became overnight millionaires, amassing resources worth an entire medium-sized sect. The number of crystals beyond count.
jì rán yǒu le xū yào ， yīn hún men zì rán bú huì kè qì ， zài gè chù líng mài bǎo dì ， dà sì shōu guā le qǐ lái ， bìng jiāng duì zì jǐ yǒu yòng de dōng xī ， quán dōu yùn huí zhù dì 。
既然有了需要，阴魂们自然不会客气，在各处灵脉宝地，大肆收刮了起来，并将对自己有用的东西，全都运回驻地。
Others naturally grew envious and followed suit, leading to constant conflict between humans and yin spirits for personal gain rather than driving them away. It was indeed a mockery of their pursuit of cultivation materials.
shuō lái yě qiǎo ， zhè xiē duì guǐ guài dōu yǒu yòng de xiū xiān zī yuán ， zài xiū shì de yǎn zhōng ， gèng shì jià zhí qiān jīn ， gǔ yǔ yǒu yún ， rén wéi cái sǐ ， niǎo wèi shí wáng ， nà xiē zhuān chéng lái lún xiàn qū tàn xiǎn xún bǎo de xiū shì ， zhú jiàn jiāng zhǔ yì dǎ zài le zhè xiē yā yùn bǎo wù de guǐ hún shēn shàng 。
说来也巧，这些对鬼怪都有用的修仙资源，在修士的眼中，更是价值千金，古语有云，人为财死，鸟为食亡，那些专程来沦陷区探险寻宝的修士，逐渐将主意打在了这些押运宝物的鬼魂身上。
The ghosts also took notice, increasing the security around their convoys by deploying more ghost kings. If anyone harbored ill intentions, they would have to think twice.
jù shuō yǒu xiū shì dǎ jié chéng gōng ， yī yè bào fù ， huò dé le jià zhí yí gè zhōng děng mén pài de cái liào zī yuán ， jià zhí de jīng shí wú fǎ jì shù 。
据说有修士打劫成功，一夜暴富，获得了价值一个中等门派的材料资源，价值的晶石无法计数。
A more sinister strategy was employed: luring the prey out of its den. This tactic was devised by the Heavenly Ghost Emperor, who, despite being the latest to ascend in rank among the four emperors, possessed formidable power and cunning, showing signs of becoming a leader among the yin spirits.
qí tā rén zì rán yǎn hóng ， fēn fēn xiào fǎ ， yī shí zhī jiān ， lún xiàn qū láng yān sì qǐ ， xiū shì yǔ yīn hún dǎ dé bù yì lè hū ， rán ér bú shì wèi le jiāng dí rén gǎn zǒu ， ér shì yī jǐ sī lì zuò lè ， xiǎng yào qiǎng duó xiū xiān cái liào ， bù dé bù shuō ， zhè shì yí gè hěn dà de cháo fěng 。
其他人自然眼红，纷纷效法，一时之间，沦陷区狼烟四起，修士与阴魂打得不亦乐乎，然而不是为了将敌人赶走，而是一己私利作樂，想要抢夺修仙材料，不得不说，这是一个很大的嘲讽。
His plan was simple: since cultivators coveted these treasures, he would use them as bait, continuously spreading false rumors.
xiū shì men rú cǐ dà jǔ jìn gōng ， yīn hún men zì rán yě huì yǒu suǒ dòng zuò ， yī lái ， jiā qiáng le yùn bǎo de hù wèi lì liàng ， bǐ píng shí duō pài jǐ wèi guǐ wáng ， jiù suàn yǒu rén qǐ le tān niàn ， yě dé hǎo hǎo de diān liáng diān liáng 。
修士们如此大举进攻，阴魂们自然也会有所动作，一来，加强了运宝的护卫力量，比平时多派几位鬼王，就算有人起了贪念，也得好好的掂量掂量。
Cultivators attacked several convoys but fell into traps, suffering heavy losses without any gains. This caused significant shockwaves within the ranks of cultivators.
dì èr gè fāng fǎ zé jiào wéi yīn dú ， yǐn shé chū dòng ， jù shuō zhè ge jì cè shì hào tiān guǐ dì xiǎng chū lái de ， zài sì dà guǐ dì zhī zhōng ， hào tiān jìn jiē zuì wǎn ， rán ér xiū wèi què bù zài lìng wài sān tóu guài wù zhī xià ， ér qiě xīn sī líng qiǎo ， yǐn yǐn yǐ yǒu yīn hún men lǐng xiù de jì xiàng 。
第二个方法则较为阴毒，引蛇出洞，据说这个计策是昊天鬼帝想出来的，在四大鬼帝之中，昊天进阶最晚，然而修为却不在另外三头怪物之下，而且心思灵巧，隐隐已有阴魂们领袖的迹象。
This explained why the man with untamed hair was questioning the accuracy of the information.
tā xiǎng chū de fāng fǎ hěn jiǎn dān ， xiū shì men jì rán yǎn hóng bǎo wù ， nà jiù yǐ cǐ wèi ěr ， yǐn yòu tā men shàng dàng ， bù duàn yǒu jiǎ xiāo xī fàng chū 。
牠想出的方法很简单，修士们既然眼红宝物，那就以此为饵，引诱他们上当，不断有假消息放出。
However, the Ghost Dao female seemed confident and sure of her assessment.
xiū shì men xí jī le jǐ gè yùn bǎo de chē duì ， nǎ zhī dào què yī tóu zāi jìn le xiàn jǐng ， bù jǐn méi yǒu shōu huò ， fǎn ér sǐ shāng cǎn zhòng 。
修士们袭击了几个运宝的车队，哪知道却一头栽进了陷阱，不仅没有收获，反而死伤惨重。
After a discussion lasting about an hour, the red-robed elder removed his soundproofing shield: "Since that's the case, we'll proceed according to plan."
zhè jiàn shì qíng zài xiū shì zhōng zào chéng le jí dà de zhèn dòng 。
这件事情在修士中造成了极大的震动。
"Agreed," the other two nodded in agreement. They returned to their respective groups, instructing others to find advantageous positions and conceal their presence while controlling their qi.
zhè yě shì wèi shén me pī fà xiū shì yào zhuī wèn xiāo xī shì fǒu què shí de yuán yīn le 。
这也是为什么披发修士要追问消息是否确实的原因了。
The man with untamed hair, however, climbed higher into the sky, rubbing his hands together to produce several array flags.
bù guò kàn nà guǐ dào nǚ xiū ， sì hū hěn yǒu bǎ wò ， xìn xīn shí zú 。
不过看那鬼道女修，似乎很有把握，信心十足。
He intended to set up a禁制 here.
sān rén shāng liáng le yuē yǒu yī zhǎn chá shí jiān ， hóng páo lǎo zhě chè qù hù zhào ：“ jì rán rú cǐ ， nà wǒ men sān rén yī jì xíng shì 。”
三人商量了约有一盏茶时间，红袍老者撤去护罩：“既然如此，那我们三人依计行事。”
Lin Xuan nodded inwardly; these preparations were meticulous indeed.
“ hǎo 。” lìng liǎng rén diǎn le diǎn tóu ， dōu méi yǒu yì yì ， rán hòu tā men gè zì huí dào le zì jǐ de zhèn yíng lǐ 。
“好。”另两人点了点头，都没有异议，然后他们各自回到了自己的阵营里。
"Ha!"
fēn fù le jǐ jù ， qí tā xiū shì sàn kāi ， gè zì xún zhǎo yǒu lì de dì xíng yǐn bì ， shōu liǎn qì xī 。
吩咐了几句，其他修士散开，各自寻找有利的地形隐蔽，收敛气息。
Several beams of light shot from his hands and sank into the ground. A flash of spirit energy followed but soon returned to stillness. The array seemed quite impressive.
wéi yǒu nà pī fà xiū shì fǎn ér bá gāo shēn xíng ， lái dào le tiān kōng zhī shàng ， shuāng shǒu yī cuō ， zhǎng xīn zhī zhōng chū xiàn le jǐ gān zhèn qí 。
唯有那披发修士反而拔高身形，来到了天空之上，双手一搓，掌心之中出现了几杆阵旗。
After completing everything, he checked his array disk with a satisfied expression before vanishing as a streak of lightning behind a rock formation, carefully concealing himself.
kàn tā de yàng zi ， shì xiǎng zài zhè lǐ bù xià jìn zhì 。
看他的样子，是想在这里布下禁制。
Lin Xuan hid in the shadows, watching every move. He had his own thoughts and plans.
lín xuān àn àn diǎn tóu ， zhè xiē rén zhǔn bèi dé dào yě xì zhì 。
林轩暗暗点头，这些人准备得倒也细致。
As time passed, the sky grew darker, but no sign of yin spirits appeared. Both the man with untamed hair and the red-robed elder showed signs of impatience.
“ hē ！”
“喝！”
"Refined Lady Ning, do you think this information might be wrong?"
jǐ lǚ guāng huá cóng pī fà xiū shì de shǒu lǐ fēi shè ér chū ， mò rù le dì dǐ ， yī zhèn líng guāng shǎn dòng ， dàn bù jiǔ yǐ hòu ， què yòu chóng xīn guī yú píng jìng ， zhè zhèn fǎ kàn qǐ lái ， pǒ yǒu jǐ fēn bù fán de yàng zi 。
几屡光华从披发修士的手里飞射而出，没入了地底，一阵灵光闪动，但不久以后，却又重新归于平静，这阵法看起来，颇有几分不凡的样子。
His tone carried a hint of reverence; it was understandable that Ghost Dao cultivators generally possessed greater abilities than their peers at the same cultivation stage.
Lin Xuan remained calm on the surface, but a faint hope stirred within him. As they say, "Tread upon the threshold and gain without effort," so perhaps today would bring some unexpected fortune.
He still had some understanding of his Qi Control Technique, which allowed him to remain undetected despite their proximity.
Although these cultivators did not belong to the same sect, they were divided into several groups. After the light from their遁光 settled, they exchanged glances before a few leaders gathered atop the mountain peak.
Two men and one woman, both of whom had the highest cultivation levels among them—both at the middle stage of Condensation Core.
Lin Xuan paid extra attention to the female cultivator.
Of course, it wasn't because he was captivated by her beauty. Although she was quite attractive, she certainly didn't stand out as a memorable beauty. What surprised Lin Xuan was that she was a Ghost Dao cultivator. Furthermore, the cultivation technique she practiced must have some anti-aging effects; otherwise, most Condensation Core cultivators would be well over a hundred years old. Yet this woman looked youthful and vibrant, around twenty.
The other two were different. One was tall and imposing, yet his hair was unkempt, exuding an air of unrestrained freedom.
The last one was elderly with an ordinary appearance, dressed in a crimson robe that stood out among them.
After exchanging nods, they began to discuss their plans.
"Refined Lady Ning, is the information truly accurate? The ghostly convoy will pass through here half an hour from now?"
The female cultivator raised her eyebrows and looked disapprovingly at the man with unkempt hair. "Brother Zhou, what do you mean by that? If you doubt my intelligence, feel free to leave."
This woman was indeed a Ghost Dao cultivator; not only was she sharp-tongued but also emitted an aura of chilling coldness around her.
The man with untamed hair hesitated for a moment before showing a wry smile. He seemed to understand the nature of this woman and didn't argue further.
"Alright, Refined Lady Ning, Brother Zhou, let's not quarrel. We must cooperate closely if we want to succeed in this treasure hunt," said the red-robed elder, deftly mediating the situation. "Let's discuss our plans."
As he spoke, his fingers curled and extended, creating a layer of soundproofing protection. He was indeed experienced; his actions were meticulous and smooth, leaving no room for error.
Lin Xuan felt surprised. This move had created significant trouble for him. Although Lin Xuan could force his way to eavesdrop with his powers, doing so might alert the others, making it a risky endeavor he would not easily attempt.
He stroked his chin in thought. From their brief conversation, he gleaned valuable information.
After wandering through the occupied zone for over half a month, he was familiar with its situation. These cultivators intended to kill ghosts and seize treasures.
The yin spirits had taken control of this area, destroying or damaging the spirit veins and mineral deposits, rendering them practically useless to humans. However, not everything was absolute; despite their different cultivation systems, there were some commonalities, particularly as more ghost kings with physical forms emerged, making certain rare herbs useful for them.
There were also the materials needed for forging spiritual artifacts, which yin spirits required to control talismans and other magical items.
Given these needs, the ghosts naturally did not hesitate to plunder various spirit vein sites, transporting valuable goods back to their strongholds.
These resources, beneficial to both humans and ghosts, became highly prized by cultivators. As the saying goes, "Man for money, bird for food," many explorers and treasure hunters in the occupied zone began targeting the ghostly convoys.
It was said that some successfully robbed a convoy and became overnight millionaires, amassing resources worth an entire medium-sized sect. The number of crystals beyond count.
Others naturally grew envious and followed suit, leading to constant conflict between humans and yin spirits for personal gain rather than driving them away. It was indeed a mockery of their pursuit of cultivation materials.
The ghosts also took notice, increasing the security around their convoys by deploying more ghost kings. If anyone harbored ill intentions, they would have to think twice.
A more sinister strategy was employed: luring the prey out of its den. This tactic was devised by the Heavenly Ghost Emperor, who, despite being the latest to ascend in rank among the four emperors, possessed formidable power and cunning, showing signs of becoming a leader among the yin spirits.
His plan was simple: since cultivators coveted these treasures, he would use them as bait, continuously spreading false rumors.
Cultivators attacked several convoys but fell into traps, suffering heavy losses without any gains. This caused significant shockwaves within the ranks of cultivators.
This explained why the man with untamed hair was questioning the accuracy of the information.
However, the Ghost Dao female seemed confident and sure of her assessment.
After a discussion lasting about an hour, the red-robed elder removed his soundproofing shield: "Since that's the case, we'll proceed according to plan."
"Agreed," the other two nodded in agreement. They returned to their respective groups, instructing others to find advantageous positions and conceal their presence while controlling their qi.
The man with untamed hair, however, climbed higher into the sky, rubbing his hands together to produce several array flags.
He intended to set up a禁制 here.
Lin Xuan nodded inwardly; these preparations were meticulous indeed.
"Ha!"
Several beams of light shot from his hands and sank into the ground. A flash of spirit energy followed but soon returned to stillness. The array seemed quite impressive.
After completing everything, he checked his array disk with a satisfied expression before vanishing as a streak of lightning behind a rock formation, carefully concealing himself.
Lin Xuan hid in the shadows, watching every move. He had his own thoughts and plans.
As time passed, the sky grew darker, but no sign of yin spirits appeared. Both the man with untamed hair and the red-robed elder showed signs of impatience.
"Refined Lady Ning, do you think this information might be wrong?"
His tone carried a hint of reverence; it was understandable that Ghost Dao cultivators generally possessed greater abilities than their peers at the same cultivation stage.